A few days had passed since that night and It's now late at night, the hallways of Beacon Academy quiet and dimly lit. Toby and Ruby walk side by side in their nightwear, their footsteps echoing softly as they make their way back to their dorms. Ruby chatters excitedly about their trip to Forever Falls the next day, her energy contagious as she talks about the beautiful red trees and the promise of an adventure.

"Forever Falls is going to be amazing! The trees, the colors, all that open space... I can't wait!" Ruby beams, her silver eyes bright with anticipation.

Toby smiles down at her, his expression softer than usual. "Yeah, it sounds like a nice change of pace. And probably good to get away from the craziness for a while."

Ruby nods, glancing up at him with a small smile. "You don’t usually go on trips like this, huh? Always working on something or fighting something.”

Toby chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess I'm used to fixing things more than relaxing. But... I think it'll be good. You, uh, seem excited enough for the both of us."

Ruby laughs, the sound light and cheerful. As they walk, the closeness between them feels natural, comfortable, but there's something else too—an unspoken tension neither of them fully understands yet. Toby glances at Ruby, catching the sparkle of excitement in her silver eyes, and he feels a strange warmth blooming in his chest. Ruby, noticing the subtle shift in his gaze, finds herself blushing, her heart skipping a beat.

For a moment, their hands brush against each other, sending a jolt through them both. They exchange a quick glance, and for a split second, the world seems to slow down. It’s like something is pulling them closer together, and they both lean in slightly, unconsciously, as if on the edge of an intimate moment neither of them is quite ready for.

Suddenly, as if realizing it at the same time, they both pull back, eyes wide in embarrassment. Ruby’s cheeks turn an even deeper shade of pink, and she tugs at the hem of her pajama top, laughing nervously.

Toby clears his throat, looking away awkwardly, though he can’t hide the faint flush creeping up his neck. "Uh, yeah... anyway... about Forever Fall..."

"Yeah! Totally, Forever Fall!" Ruby agrees a little too quickly, waving her hands as if to shake off the awkwardness. The silence that follows is thick but not uncomfortable—more like a shared understanding that neither of them really knows how to handle what just happened.

"So, um..." Ruby stammers, trying to fill the awkward silence, "Would it, uh, be okay if my team... maybe... hung out with your team in your dorm tomorrow? After the trip, I mean."

Toby blinks, caught off guard, but then nods quickly, a small smile creeping onto his face. "Yeah, sure. I think they'd like that."

"Cool!" Ruby squeaks, her voice a little higher than usual, fidgeting with the sleeve of her pajama top, still feeling the awkward tension but also a strange sense of relief. "So, uh, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then?”

"Yeah, see you tomorrow," Toby replies, his voice softer now, almost warm.

They continue walking, the awkward moment slowly dissolving into the comfortable rhythm of their friendship, though a lingering tension hangs in the air—an unspoken awareness of feelings that might be growing between them. Neither of them says it, but maybe, just maybe, they’re starting to notice something deeper than just friendship.
______________________________________________

In Team JNPR's dorm, Pyrrha Nikos stands by the window, her eyes clouded with sadness as she gazes into the night. Lie Ren, sitting on his bed, methodically loads StormFlower while Nora Valkyrie bounces playfully on her own bed.

Nora pouts as she flops backward onto her covers, staring at the ceiling. “How come Jaune gets home so late?”

Ren, focused as ever, clicks the final piece of his weapon into place. “He’s been rather scarce lately—ever since he started fraternizing with Cardin.”

Nora furrows her brows, mid-bounce. “That’s weird... Doesn’t he know we have a field trip tomorrow? We need our rest!” She twirls in midair, landing on her back with a soft thud.

Pyrrha’s grip tightens on the windowsill, frustration flickering in her emerald eyes. “I’m sure our leader knows exactly what he’s doing,” she says bitterly, her voice tinged with uncharacteristic anger.

Nora and Ren exchange confused glances, unsure of how to respond. Unbeknownst to them, Jaune stands just outside the door, his heart sinking at Pyrrha’s words. Through the small crack in the door, he watches, guilt gnawing at him.

Nora shrugs, turning to Ren. “Mmmm... I guess so.”

Jaune hangs his head in shame, silently closing the door behind him. As he leans against the wall, lost in his thoughts, a familiar voice interrupts.

“Hey, Jaune!”

Startled, Jaune jerks his head up to see Ruby and Toby standing down the hall. Ruby giggles at his reaction while Toby gives him a knowing nod.

Ruby smiles brightly. “Long time, no see! Did you lock yourself out again?”

Jaune fumbles for his Scroll, trying to play it cool. “Oh, uh, nope! Got it right here!” He laughs awkwardly, waving the device.

Ruby tilts her head. “So! Where’ve you been lately?”

Jaune hesitates, glancing at Toby before lowering his gaze to the floor. “I, uh…” He struggles to find the right words but eventually sighs, shoulders slumping in defeat. “I messed up. I did something I shouldn’t have, and now Cardin has me on a leash. Pyrrha won’t even talk to me, and… I’m starting to think coming to this school was a mistake.” He leans against the door, sliding down until he’s sitting on the floor, head bowed in despair. “I’m a failure.”

Ruby shakes her head, her voice firm but kind. “Nope!”

Jaune looks up at her, confused. “Nope?”

“Nope!” Ruby insists. “You’re a leader now, Jaune. You’re not allowed to be a failure.”

Jaune’s brows furrow in frustration. “But… what if I’m a failure at being a leader?”

Toby, who has been listening quietly, finally steps forward. “Then you learn from your mistakes. You figure it out. It’s what being a leader is about.” His voice is calm but carries weight, a seriousness that matches the situation.

Jaune looks at Toby, then back at Ruby. “You both make it sound so easy.”

“Nope!” Ruby admits, crossing her arms as she stands beside Toby. “But failing doesn’t make you a failure. It’s giving up that does.” She sits down beside him, her eyes full of determination. “Maybe you weren’t the best when you were younger, and maybe you even messed up on the first day here. But you’ve got a team now. They need you.”

Jaune leans his head back against the door, staring up at the ceiling, feeling the weight of Ruby’s words. “I don’t know if I can do it. What if I let them down?”

Ruby stands up, placing her hands on her hips as she looks down at him. “You won’t. Because it’s not just about you anymore. It’s about your team. They deserve a great leader, Jaune. And I think you can be that leader.”

Toby crouches down, meeting Jaune’s gaze. “Being a leader isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being there for your team when they need you most. You’ll make mistakes, but you’ll grow. That’s what counts.”

Jaune blinks, taken aback by Toby’s straightforward yet thoughtful words. For the first time in a while, he feels a small spark of hope. “You really think so?”

Toby nods firmly. “I know so. You’ve got it in you, Jaune.”

Ruby grins and gives him a thumbs-up. “See? We both believe in you! Now, get some rest. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

She heads toward her dorm, giving a little wave before disappearing behind the door. Toby stands and offers Jaune one last reassuring pat on the shoulder before entering his own dorm.

As the doors close, Jaune sits there, a little lighter than before, replaying their words in his head. Maybe… just maybe, he could be the leader his team needed after all.

With renewed energy, Jaune pushes himself off the ground and turns to face the door, determination settling in his chest. His hand hovers over the knob, ready to finally confront his team and take charge, but the sharp beep of his Scroll interrupts his thoughts. He frowns, pulling the device from his side and flipping it open. The screen lights up with a message from Cardin.

Jaune hesitates, dread curling in his stomach as he taps the play button.

Cardin’s voice crackles through the Scroll. "Hey! It’s your buddy Cardin!" Jaune grimaces at the mocking tone. "I know you’re probably busy with that Dust project I gave you, buuuut I’m gonna need you to go out and get me a bag of Rapier Wasps."

Jaune's eyes widen, a terrified sound escaping his throat. He clutches the Scroll tighter, his stomach sinking as Cardin continues.

"And make sure they’ve got some really big stingers! It’s important, so don’t screw this up!"

The message ends, and Jaune stares at the screen in dismay. Just as he starts to close the Scroll, it beeps again—another message from Cardin, no doubt. Sighing deeply, Jaune lets the device fall to his side, his earlier resolve draining away. His shoulders slump as he turns, heading down the hallway, away from his dorm and his team.
______________________________________________

An overhead shot of a forest bustling with red leaves and gray trunks is seen as the camera descends and shows teams RWBY, JNPR, TNSD and CRDL being led by a professor through the area.

He is a towering man, easily standing at 7 feet tall, with a broad and muscular build. His rugged face is framed by a thick, dark brown beard with hints of gray, complementing his deep-set, amber-colored eyes. He wears a plaid flannel shirt with rolled-up sleeves, showcasing his large forearms, adorned with faded scars. His pants are made of sturdy, reinforced denim, and he wears steel-toed boots. Around his neck, he has a wooden pendant carved into the shape of a small ox and strapped to his back is a massive lumberjack’s ax.

"Yes, students, the forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful," he begins, gesturing broadly to the red canopy above. "But right now, we are not here to sight-see. That’s for our next field trip. Professor Peach has tasked all of you with collecting samples from the trees deep inside this forest, and I'm here to make sure none of you die on my watch while doing so.”

His rugged face softens with a faint smirk as the students listen intently. He gestures to the trees around them, towering gray trunks that reach up to the vibrant red canopy above. The group comes to a stop, and Jaune, trying to catch up with them while lugging a large case with six empty jars strapped to the top, stumbles and bumps into Cardin Winchester. Cardin scowls down at him, and Jaune, already flustered, tries to deflect by whistling tunelessly, eyes darting away.

He continues, holding up a full jar of deep red sap for emphasis, "Each of you is to gather one jar’s worth of red sap from these trees." He lowers the jar slightly, his amber eyes scanning the students. "However, this forest is crawling with the creatures of Grimm. So, I expect all of you to stay by your teammates at all times. No wandering off." His voice lowers with a note of warning, but then brightens slightly. "We will rendezvous back here at four o’clock. Have fun, everyone!”

As Yang and Ruby share a smile, Jaune seizes the opportunity to slip away from Cardin. He attempts to sneak toward his team, but his movements are far from subtle. His foot catches on a branch, making an awkward crunch under his weight. Just as he thinks he’s in the clear, a firm grip clamps down on the back of his hoodie, yanking him backward.

“Come on, buddy—let’s go!” Cardin sneers, pulling Jaune toward Team CRDL.

Jaune’s shoulders slump in defeat as he miserably glances up at his team. Nora and Ren are already walking into the depths of the forest, oblivious to the scene unfolding behind them. His gaze shifts to Pyrrha, who stands still, watching him with sad, disappointed eyes. The weight of her silent dismay sinks into Jaune, and he can’t bear to hold her gaze any longer. He drops his eyes to the ground, his heart heavy with shame.

Without a word, Jaune turns and follows Cardin and his team. Behind him, Pyrrha lets out a quiet sigh, her expression filled with concern and regret, before she turns and follows Nora and Ren into the forest.
______________________________________________

Toby moves through the forest, his mind wandering far from the task at hand as he absently collects sap from the trees. His thoughts drift back to the previous night, replaying the moment between him and Ruby over and over again. That brief, almost intimate exchange weighs on his mind, stirring feelings he wasn’t prepared to confront.

His hands move mechanically, filling the jar with red sap as he stares into the vibrant forest around him, but his focus is elsewhere. The way Ruby had looked at him, the way they’d almost—he shakes his head, frustrated with himself. What was that? What did it mean?

Suddenly, a voice snaps him out of his thoughts.

“Toby.”

Startled, Toby turns and sees his older sister, Nilak, standing nearby, arms crossed, her usual cool expression softened with a knowing look. There’s something in her eyes that tells him she’s already aware of what’s been bothering him.

“We need to talk,” Nilak says quietly, her tone leaving no room for debate.

Toby glances around at the others, making sure no one is paying attention, before nodding and stepping away from the group with her. They walk a little deeper into the forest, away from the prying eyes and ears of their teammates, until Nilak stops, turning to face him.

“So,” she begins, her voice low but teasing, “what’s going on with you and Ruby?”

"What?" Toby asks, genuinely confused by Nilak's sudden question.

Nilak’s grin grows as she narrows her eyes, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Oh, you can hear me," she teases, her voice dripping with snark. "Don’t play dumb."

Toby frowns. "I don’t know what you’re talking about," he mutters, trying to sound indifferent, but he knows Nilak too well—she’s not going to let this go easily.

"Don’t give me that, Toby," she says, her tone now laced with amusement. "This morning, you and Ruby barely said anything to each other. Just a quick 'good morning,' and that’s it. You, of all people, should know how chatty she is. And suddenly, she’s quiet? Come on."

Toby sighs, dismissing it with a wave of his hand. "That’s normal. People have quiet mornings, Nilak. It’s no big deal.”

Nilak raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Normal? Really? What about last week when she couldn’t stop talking about your sparring session? Or the way you two have been making excuses to hang out alone? And don’t even get me started on how she looked at you during that training exercise. You think I don’t notice these things?"

Toby’s resistance crumbles under Nilak’s barrage of evidence. He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly, finally admitting what he's been holding back. "Okay, fine... maybe I do have a thing for her. But it’s not like that—" He pauses, trying to find the right words. "I don’t know what it is yet."

Nilak smirks, clearly pleased with herself. "Knew it."

Before Toby can respond, they’re interrupted by a voice from behind.

"Well, this just got interesting," says Yang, stepping out from behind a nearby tree, arms crossed with a playful grin on her face.

Toby and Nilak both spin around, startled. "Yang?! How long have you been standing there?" Toby asks, his eyes wide.

"Long enough," Yang replies, her grin widening as she saunters closer. "You two aren’t exactly quiet, you know." She raises an eyebrow, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "So... Toby has a thing for my little sister, huh?”

Toby flushes, his face going red as he struggles to find the words. "I, uh... it’s not like that!" he stammers, his usual composure nowhere to be found.

Yang chuckles, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Oh, come on. You don’t have to be all awkward about it," she teases, crossing her arms. "I think it’s cute."

Nilak laughs softly, leaning in toward her brother. "Told you it was obvious."

Toby shoots his sister a glare before turning back to Yang, still fumbling with his words. "Look, I didn’t mean for it to happen, okay? Ruby and I... we’re just really close."

"Uh-huh," Yang says, giving him a knowing look. "Close enough for you to look like a deer caught in headlights every time I mention her?”

Toby sighs, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Okay, fine! Maybe I do like her. But what am I supposed to do about it? It’s not exactly easy, you know. She’s... she’s Ruby."

Yang’s expression softens a bit, though the teasing smile never leaves her face. "You know, Ruby's tougher than she looks, and she can handle her own feelings. If you like her, just be honest. You’ve already spent enough time dancing around it."

Toby looks at the ground, feeling a mix of relief and dread. "Yeah, but... what if she doesn’t feel the same way?"

Yang shrugs. "Well, that’s a risk you’ll have to take. But Ruby’s pretty open-hearted. If she didn’t like you back, she’d let you down easy. But honestly?" She gives him a playful punch to the arm. "I think you’ve got a shot.”

Nilak, watching all of this with amusement, nudges Toby’s shoulder. "See? You should listen to Yang. She’s the big sister here."

Toby groans, realizing he’s outnumbered. "You two are going to make sure I do something about this, aren’t you?"

Yang grins widely. "Oh, you better believe it."

Nilak smirks. "Definitely. I’m not letting you off that easy, little brother."

With both of them staring him down, Toby knows he doesn’t have much of a choice. He takes a deep breath and nods, finally accepting the inevitable. "Alright, alright. I’ll talk to Ruby... soon."

Yang claps him on the back, nearly knocking him off balance. "That’s the spirit! Just remember, no pressure. Be yourself. Ruby likes you for who you are. But, just so we're clear," she says, her tone light but with an edge to it at the last part, "if you ever break Ruby's heart..." She leans in, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I’ll break your neck."

Toby freezes, feeling the weight of her words despite the sweet smile still on her face. "Uh... got it. No heart-breaking," he mutters, trying not to show how intimidated he is. Nilak raises an eyebrow, clearly amused by the situation but not saying a word.

Yang pats his shoulder with exaggerated gentleness. "Good. I knew you'd understand." Then, just like that, her grin returns, and she spins on her heel, heading back toward the rest of the group. "Now, come on! We've got sap to collect!”

Toby stands there for a moment, still processing the not-so-subtle warning, before looking at Nilak, who gives him a teasing smirk. "Looks like you’ve got your work cut out for you," she says, crossing her arms.

Toby lets out a nervous laugh. "Yeah... no kidding.”
______________________________________________

As Toby and Nilak make their way back toward the others, they spot Daruna sitting cross-legged on the ground, casually inspecting the jar of sap he'd already collected. He looks up as they approach, a smirk spreading across his face.

"Well, well," Daruna quips, stretching his arms out with an exaggerated yawn. "Took your sweet time, didn’t you? I was starting to think you two got lost or something."

Nilak rolls her eyes playfully. "Relax, Daruna. We were just... catching up on some things."

Toby shoots him a look, trying to keep his cool after the encounter with Yang. "Yeah, just a quick sibling chat. What's it to you?"

Daruna chuckles, leaning back on his hands. "Oh, nothing. Just enjoying the peace and quiet before you two came stomping back in. You know, not all of us need sibling drama to keep things interesting."

Toby gives a light shove to Daruna's shoulder as he passes by, grinning. "Careful, Daruna. You might miss us when we’re gone."

Daruna laughs. "Oh, I highly doubt that.”

As the twins take their places near the group, they notice something unusual. Simon’s hands are buried inside a nearby tree trunk, glowing with a faint orange hue. Toby arches a brow, curious.

“What the—?” Toby starts, exchanging a puzzled glance with Nilak.

Daruna, still lounging, grins and tilts his head towards Simon. “Oh, that? Our little ghost here found a new way to collect sap. Pretty efficient if you ask me.”

Just as Daruna finishes, Simon carefully pulls his hands out of the tree trunk, holding up a jar now filled to the brim with red sap. He looks over at them, beaming proudly.

"Ta-da!" Simon announces, as if he’s just performed a magic trick.

Toby lets out an impressed whistle. "Well, that’s one way to do it."

Nilak shakes her head, smirking. "Leave it to Simon to turn sap collection into some kind of spectral art form."

Simon grins wider, brushing a bit of tree bark off his arm. "Ghosting has its perks!”

Daruna, still seated cross-legged, raises a hand to the group. "Alright, everyone, don’t disturb me. I need a moment." His voice is calm but carries the weight of concentration.

The others exchange glances, curious but respectful. As Daruna closes his eyes, a soft purple aura begins to shimmer around him, signaling the activation of his semblance. His ability, Howl, while it can manipulate sounds around him, also enhances his hearing beyond normal levels, allowing him to detect the faintest of sounds within the forest.

The world around him seems to fade as he focuses on the distant noises—the rustling of leaves, the subtle movements of Grimm in the distance, and even the faint breath of his teammates.

Toby watches, his arms crossed. "Guess he’s doing his thing," he murmurs, glancing at Nilak, who nods in agreement.

“Yep, if anyone's going to pick up on anything out there, it'll be him,” Nilak adds.

Daruna’s face remains impassive, fully immersed in his semblance, as he listens to the forest's heartbeat.
______________________________________________

Perched on a hilltop, Team CRDL—plus Jaune, squeezed between Cardin and Russel—peer over the crest, watching as the other students collect their sap. Down below, Ren kneels beside a tree, filling a jar with sap and passing it to Nora, who grins and "Mmmm!"s as if receiving a treat. Ren takes the empty jar from her, returning to the task. Off-screen, licking sounds are heard, and when the camera pans back to Nora, she's sheepishly smiling, her face covered in red sap, holding an empty jar.

Jaune shifts nervously, glancing at Cardin. "Cardin, wh-what’s going on?"

Cardin stares intently at the scene below. "Payback."

Jaune’s eyes widen in alarm. "Pyrrha…?" He watches her collecting sap from another tree. "Wh-what are you—?"

Cardin clenches his fist. "That’s the one. Red-haired know-it-all, thinks she’s so smart." He smirks and pulls out a buzzing cardboard box marked with a large "W." "Last night, our buddy Jaune here rounded up an entire box of Rapier Wasps. Now, it’s time we put them to good use."

Russel grabs Jaune’s shoulder, making him stifle a nervous laugh.

"These nasty things loooove sweets," Cardin continues, his gaze locked on Pyrrha, who is still collecting sap. "I’m thinking it’s time she learned a lesson."

The members of Team CRDL rise to their feet, grinning with anticipation. Cardin offers his hand to Jaune, only to yank him up roughly and shove a jar of sap into his hands. "And you’re gonna do it."

"D-do what?" Jaune stammers.

"Hit her with the sap!" Cardin leans in menacingly. "Either that, or I’ll have a chat with Goodwitch. You’ll be on the next airship out of Beacon."

Jaune looks down at the jar in his hands, then up at the grinning faces of Cardin's team. He turns toward the group below, aiming the jar at an unsuspecting Pyrrha. His hands tremble, nerves fighting with fear.

But then, he steels himself.

"No."

Cardin freezes. "What did you say?"

Jaune’s grip tightens on the jar. "I said… NO!"

Without hesitation, he turns and hurls the jar at Cardin. The sap splatters across Cardin's breastplate. Jaune recoils, hands raised defensively, as Cardin looks down at himself. A slow, dangerous laugh escapes Cardin's lips.

"Oh, you’ve really done it now…"

Jaune tries to laugh off the situation, but his attempt falters as Dove and Sky grab him by the shoulders, pulling him in.
______________________________________________

Jaune groans as he hits the ground, wincing in pain as he looks up to see a sap-covered Cardin looming over him. With a grin, Cardin grabs Jaune by his shirt and hoists him up, only to slam him back down with a hard shove.

Cardin smirks. "You know, that wasn’t very smart, Jauney boy." He picks Jaune up again, and the rest of Team CRDL watches, grinning from the sidelines. "I’m gonna make sure they send you back to mommy in tiny little pieces."

Jaune, bruised and beaten, hangs his head back. "I don’t care what you do to me..." He lifts his head, fury blazing in his eyes. "But you are not messing with my team."

For a moment, Cardin is taken aback, surprised by Jaune’s defiance. "What? You think talk like that makes you tough? You think you're a big, strong man now?"

Jaune smiles defiantly, his confidence sparking something deeper inside him. Cardin, now enraged, lets out a roar and swings his fist at Jaune, but just as the blow connects, a brilliant white light erupts from Jaune, causing Cardin to stumble back, clutching his hand in pain.

When the light fades, Cardin is left wincing, his hand throbbing. Jaune, still on the ground but suddenly healed, looks down at his hands in awe as they faintly glow white. But before he can fully process what’s happening, Sky kicks him in the back, sending him onto his stomach. Jaune, gritting his teeth, glares up at the approaching Cardin.

Cardin sneers. "Let’s see how tough you really are..."

But before he can take another step, a low, menacing growl echoes through the trees. Team CRDL freezes, their eyes widening as a massive paw slams into the ground nearby. Emerging from the forest is a hulking Ursa Major, its jagged, spike-covered back bristling as it moves forward. The beast lifts its head, sniffing the air, its attention drawn to the sap on Cardin’s breastplate.

The Ursa roars, its powerful voice shaking the ground as Cardin stumbles back in terror. His teammates, in a panic, turn and bolt.

"That’s a big Ursa!" Russel shouts as he flees.

Cardin is left rooted to the spot, frozen in fear, as the Ursa swings its claws, sending him sprawling to the side. Behind him, Jaune cowers, watching the Grimm intently. The beast sniffs again, paying little attention to Jaune, its focus solely on Cardin. As it towers over Cardin, the team leader fumbles for The Executioner, pulling it out in desperation, only for the Ursa to bat it aside like a toy. The weapon skids across the ground, landing at Jaune’s feet.

Jaune looks down at the mace, conflicted. Fight or run? The choice looms as the Ursa growls, advancing on the helpless Cardin.
______________________________________________

The deafening roar of the Ursa Major reverberates through the forest, immediately drawing the attention of Teams RWBY, TNSD, and JNPR, who are still busy collecting sap on the other side of the woods.

Ruby shoots up from her crouched position, alarmed. "Did you guys hear that?"

Daruna, who had been meditating to focus his semblance, snaps his eyes open and quickly rises to his feet. "Yup, we did. And it's both big and bad." Without another word, he takes off from the group, running at full speed to get help.

Just then, the remaining members of Team CRDL appear, sprinting in sheer panic, their faces pale with terror.

"Ursa! Ursa!" Russel yells, still looking over his shoulder. In his frantic escape, he unknowingly phases right through Simon, who stands completely intangible. Simon blinks, unfazed, and casually reaches out, grabbing Russel by the collar of his shirt and effortlessly hoisting him into the air before he can barrel into Yang.

Yang blinks in surprise. "What?! Where?”

Russel, still flailing and pointing backward as his legs kick at the air, stammers, "Back there! It's got Cardin!"

Pyrrha's eyes widen in alarm as the jar of sap she was holding slips from her grasp, crashing to the ground. "Jaune!"

Ruby, always quick to act, snaps into leader mode. "Yang! You and Blake, go follow Daruna and get Professor Blueford!" She gestures sharply, her voice steady with authority.

Yang catches the seriousness in Ruby's tone, her usual carefree demeanor hardening as she nods. "Got it!" She shares a glance with Blake, who wordlessly nods back, and the two sprint off in the direction Daruna had gone as the others activate their weapons.

Pyrrha, with determination in her eyes, looks to Ren and Nora. "You two, go with them! There could be more!”
______________________________________________

Cardin scrambles to his feet, fear written all over his face as he attempts to flee from the relentless Ursa. But the massive Grimm easily leaps over him, cutting off his escape and swatting him aside with a powerful swipe. He crashes into the dirt, groaning as he struggles to crawl away.

"Crap! Crap, crap!" Cardin gasps, panic consuming him.

Just then, Pyrrha, Toby, Nilak, Simon, Ruby, and Weiss arrive at the scene, stopping in their tracks as they see the Ursa looming over a helpless Cardin.

"Oh, no!" Pyrrha exclaims, eyes wide with horror.

The Ursa raises its enormous paw, ready to deliver the final blow. But before it can strike, a shield, Crocea Mors, slams into its paw, blocking the attack. Jaune, struggling to keep the Ursa from crushing Cardin, grits his teeth in determination. Cardin stares up at him, stunned by the unexpected defense.

Toby's irises glow red as he steps forward, prepared to leap into the fray. Weiss, with Myrtenaster raised, also readies herself to assist, but Pyrrha holds out her arm to stop them. "Wait!"

Jaune takes a deep breath and yanks the shield from under the Ursa's paw. He slashes at its stomach with his sword, causing the Grimm to snarl in pain. The Ursa retaliates, trying to crush him with its massive weight, but Jaune quickly rolls out of the way. He leaps over a swipe aimed at his feet, but mid-air, the Ursa catches him off-guard with a sudden claw strike.

Jaune crashes to the ground but quickly pushes himself back to his feet, determination flaring in his eyes. He glances at the Scroll embedded in his shield—his Aura is dangerously low, deep in the red. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he charges again, passing a disoriented Cardin on the ground.

The Ursa roars and begins dashing toward Jaune, the two heading straight for each other in a slow-motion collision course. Pyrrha, watching closely, notices with alarm that Jaune has left himself wide open to the Ursa's incoming attack. Without hesitation, she raises her hand, dark red energy gathering around her arm.

Just as the Ursa is about to land a crushing blow on Jaune, the energy envelops his shield, lifting it up to block the Grimm’s attack. Jaune blinks in surprise but quickly uses the moment to his advantage. He leans down, pushing his shield upward to parry the strike, and swings Crocea Mors with all his might. His blade slices through the Ursa, and the Grimm disintegrates into nothingness.

Ruby stares at Pyrrha in amazement, as the glowing energy around her hand fades and a soft smile touches her lips. "Uhhh... What?"

Simon, already aware of Pyrrha's semblance, doesn't appear surprised but shakes his head, “Figures.”

Weiss is just as stunned. "How did you...?"

Toby steps forward, his brows furrowed in curiosity. "Was that your semblance?"

Pyrrha looks at her friends, slightly amused. "Well, Ruby has her speed, Toby has his electricity, Nilak has her ice, Simon can become intangible, and you have your glyphs. My semblance is polarity."

Ruby’s eyes widen. "Whoa, you can control poles..."

The twins, Toby and Nilak, can’t help but burst into laughter.

Weiss rolls her eyes, shaking her head. "No, you dunce! It means she has control over magnetism!"

Ruby, still awed by the revelation, whispers under her breath, "Magnets are cool, too..."

As Pyrrha begins to walk away, Weiss quickly notices. "Wait, where are you going?"

Ruby jumps in, excited. "Yeah! We gotta tell them what happened!"

Pyrrha pauses, glancing back with a mischievous glint in her eye. "We could... Or perhaps we could keep it our little secret?" She smiles gently before continuing to walk away.

Meanwhile, Jaune, still bruised but standing tall, sheathes his weapon and approaches a sap-covered Cardin, who is still trying to process everything. Cardin glances up as Jaune reaches out a hand, offering to help him up. After a moment of hesitation, Cardin takes it, and Jaune pulls him to his feet.

Cardin, clearly shaken, stares at Jaune in disbelief. "Holy crap, Jaune!"

Jaune leans in closer, his expression stern and unwavering. "Don't ever mess with my team—my friends—ever again." His voice is cold, serious, and there’s no doubt he means every word. Jaune holds Cardin’s gaze, his message clear.

Cardin, wide-eyed and perhaps a bit remorseful, nods stiffly, unsure of how to respond. With that, Jaune turns his back on the frozen bully and walks away, leaving Cardin standing there, speechless.

As Jaune turns away from Cardin and begins walking back towards the rest of his team, he runs into Simon, who had lingered behind to talk to him. The ghostly member of Team TNSD crosses his arms, giving Jaune a soft smile, but his eyes carry a knowing look.

Jaune shifts uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. “Hey, Simon… I, uh… I wanted to say I’m sorry.”

Simon raises an eyebrow, surprised. “For what?”

“For how I’ve been acting,” Jaune sighs. “Towards you and Pyrrha. I know I’ve been pretty distant and... well, kind of a jerk, honestly. Especially to Pyrrha. She didn’t deserve that. Neither of you did.”

Simon lets Jaune’s words sink in before giving a small nod. “It’s alright, Jaune. We’ve all got our stuff to deal with, but... you’ve got good friends. And Pyrrha really does care about you, you know? She just wants to help."

Jaune looks down, feeling the weight of Simon’s words. “Yeah, I know that now. I just... I’ve been trying to prove something to myself, and I guess I pushed everyone away because of it. But you and Pyrrha... you guys didn’t give up on me.”

Simon smiles warmly. “Of course we didn’t. That’s what friends are for.”

Jaune returns the smile, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. “Thanks, Simon. I’ll do better. I promise.”

Simon pats him on the shoulder. “You’ve already started, Jaune. Let’s get back to the others, yeah?”

Jaune nods, and together, they head back toward their friends, leaving the tension and misunderstandings behind.

What nobody notices is that far behind them, two mysterious cloaked figures wearing full Grimm masks emerge from behind the trees where they were hiding.

“Pitiful insects,” scoffs one of them.

“We've seen enough. Let's report our findings to our master.” says the other one as they turn back deep in the woods.
______________________________________________

Later that night, Jaune stands at the edge of the dorm building, his Beacon uniform catching the cool breeze as he stares out at the glowing green lights of Beacon Academy in the distance. His thoughts swirl with everything that’s happened—his mistakes, his friendships, and the promise he made to himself.

Pyrrha's voice suddenly breaks the quiet. "No Cardin tonight?" she asks, approaching his side with a gentle smile. "I thought you two were best buds?"

Jaune turns to her, the guilt still lingering in his expression. "Pyrrha... I’m sorry. I was a jerk. You were just trying to be nice, and I let all this stupid macho stuff get in my head—"

"Jaune!" she interrupts softly, her eyes filled with understanding. "It's okay." They share a quiet moment, both smiling at each other, the air between them no longer tense. "Your team really misses their leader, you know," she adds playfully, stepping back toward the exit. "You should come down. Ren made pancakes! No syrup, though—you can thank Nora for that."

Jaune chuckles but quickly grows serious again. "Wait!" he calls out, holding out his hand, stopping Pyrrha in her tracks. She turns around, and he looks a bit sheepish. "I know I don’t deserve it after everything that happened, but... would you still be willing to help me? To help me become a better fighter?"

Pyrrha, facing away, allows a satisfied smile to break through, knowing Jaune can't see. She walks back to him, suddenly and playfully shoving him to the ground.

"Hey!" Jaune whines in surprise, looking up at her.

With her hands on her hips, Pyrrha looks down at him with a playful, evaluating tone. "Your stance is all wrong. You need to be wider and lower to the ground." She offers him her hand, and Jaune takes it, their hands lingering in the grip as they both grin at each other.

"Let’s try that again," Pyrrha says with a knowing smile, ready to begin.